Essentials of Pure Land Buddhism – Part 3

A.  Pureland Cultivators Must Vow to
Attain the Ultimate Bodhi Mind.

The deeper meaning of the “Ultimate Bodhi Mind” is:

The Ultimate Enlightenment Fruit of Buddhahood.

Therefore, the “Ultimate Bodhi Mind” is the mind that vows to attain the Ultimate Enlightenment of Buddhahood in order to:
Help and rescue all sentient beings.
Why is it necessary for Pureland Cultivators (Buddha Recitation Practitioners) to vow to attain the Ultimate Bodhi Mind of the Buddha?
Because if one uses the virtues and merits obtained from reciting Buddha to pray for the small benefits of this world (such as to become royalties, millionaires, billionaires, etc.), this does not accord with the great vows of the Buddhas. In contrast, Pureland cultivators must:

Vow to attain enlightenment and liberation from the Cycle of Rebirths.

However, if Pureland cultivators only wish to to escape the cycle of rebirths by achieving the enlightenment fruits of the Second Vehicle of the Arahats and Prateyka Buddhas, in order to benefit themselves only, this is also not conistent with the hopes and vows of the Buddhas.  Therefore, the Pureland Cultivators must:

Vow to attain the Ultimate Enlightenment of Buddhahood.

Only in this way will they accord with the wishes and vows of the Buddhas for us sentient beings.

*

If the Buddha Recitation practitioners do not develop the Bodhi Mind*(see footnotes) (vowing to escape the cycle of rebirths), sooner or later, they will get lost in the evil path.
Why? these people will have the following:
1. In the first life, they concentrate on practicing Buddha Recitation (but do not or forget to vow for the Bodhi Mind to attain enlightenment).
2. In the next life, relying on the virtues and merits obtained from Buddh Recitation (in the first life), they are reincarnated (reborn) as people of great wealth (royalty, noblemen, aristocrats  etc.) to enjoy the five desires*(see footnotes) to the maximum.  Thus, while enjoying the five desires, it is extremely easy for those people (former Pureland cultivators) to commit various unwholesome and wicked karma.
3. Consequently, when they are reincarnated to the third life, they will be condemned to the three evil paths (hell, hungry-ghost, and animal). Therefore, if people practice Buddha Recitation but do not develop the Bodhi Mind praying for liberation and enlightenment, then:
-  The virtues and merits gained from Buddha Recitation in the first life will become
-  The enemies of the third life.

In the Pureland Commentary, “The Ten Essentials of Pureland Buddhism,” the First Vietnamese Pureland Patriarch, Great Master Thich Thien-Tam taught to develop the Bodhi Mind in this way:
“The development of the Bodhi Mind is not speaking hollowly, such as:
‘I vow for the Bodhi Mind’ or chant these ‘Four Propagation Vows:’

Infinite sentient beings, I vow to take across.
Immeasurable afflictions, I vow to eliminate.
Innumerable Dharma Doors, I vow to master.
The Buddha’s Ultimate Enlightenment, I vow to attain.

Do not assume just by saying these vows, they are enough to “develop the Bodhi mind.” Cultivators must examine truthfully in order to develop the Bodhi mind genuinely and sincerely as well as having their conducts be consistent with their vows throughout the cultivated life. If Buddhists genuinely wish to develop the Bodhi Mind (enlightenment) in the most sincere manner, then they must contemplate and observe the following six essentials in order to develop that mind:

1.  Awakened Mind:
What is an “Awakened Mind?”
It is to be awakened to the following
A.This Body is not Me or Mine, but is only a temporary combination of the four great elements (Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind).
B. The Discriminatory Mind is the same way, it is the result from the “combinations” of the six elements Form, Sound, Fragrance, Flavor, Touch, and Dharma (everything else from large to small). Therefore, “It ” is also not “Me” or “Mine” either.
1. If cultivators are able to penetrate and comprehend in this way, they will be able to eliminate two types of bondage: Self and Myself. And if there is no “Self” or “Myself”, then the Self-Characteristic(the characteristic of being attached to the concept of self) will be eliminated immediately. Thus, if the Self-Characteristic already does not exist, then:
2. The Other’s Characteristic (the characteristic of clinging to the concept of other people) does not exist either. But if Other’s Characteristic does not exist, then, naturally:
3. The Sentient Bengs’ Characteristic (the characteristic of clinging to the existence of all other sentient beings) will no longer exist.
Thus if:
– Self is Not (does not exist).
– Others (people) are Not, and
– Sentient Beings (all other beings) are Not.
Then:
– “There is no one” to attain (enlightenment) or anything; therefore:
4. There is no “Achievement Characteristic” either.
Thus, because these “four characteristics of sentient beings” NO LONGER EXIST, the practitioners will attain enlightenment immediately. Therefore, this is what it means to cultivate the:

“AWAKENED MIND.”

2.  EQUALITY MIND
What is an “Equality Mind?”
It is important to understand the following:
The Sakyamuni Buddha taught:
“The Buddha Nature is common to all sentient beings; they are the fathers and mothers of each
other in the past and are the Buddhas of the future.”
Therefore:
a. While associating with other sentient beings, we must develop an equal (fairness) and respectful mind, to look upon them as the Buddhas of the future.
b. If this is done, the karmic obstructions of “discriminations and egotism” will be eliminated.
c. And doing so will give rise to various “wholesome and virtuous characteristics.”
This is what it means to cultivate the:

“EQUALITY MIND.”

3.  COMPASSIONATE MIND
What is the “Compassionate Mind?”
To be compassionate is to pity and to be empathetic, wishing to help and to rescue others without having discriminations or attachment to various characteristics (To put this simply, this means to have love and compassion, wishing to help others but not to have any intention of taking advantages. For instance, seeing someone rich, beautiful, having class, etc. in need, one “pretends to be compassionate” by helping but having ulterior motives of self-gain.  This is called “Desirous Views” [seeing wealth, beauty, etc.], developing love and lust according to binding ways of sentient beings; thus, to act in this way cannot be called being “compassionate.”  In short, true compassion is to be altruistic when helping someone, to forget one’s self in helping others, etc.).
In the Avatamsaka Sutra, Samantabhadra Maha-Bodhisattva shed light on why the Bodhisattva developed the “Compassionate Mind”:
“The Bodhisattvas observe sentient beings and seeing that they:
1. Do not have any place to lean on to develop Great Compassion.
2. Are not kind and good-natured to develop Great Compassion.
3. Suffer in poverty  without wholesome karma to develop Great Compassion.
4. Sleep soundly in the long nights of binding ignorance to develop Great Compassion.
5. Carry out evil actions to develop Great Compassion.
6. Are already bound and tied down but are still fond of other bondages to develop Great Compassion.
7. Are drowning in the ocean of life-and-death to develop Great Compassion.
8. Are trapped enduring sufferings for an extensive period of time to develop Great Compassion.
9. Are not fond of wholesome dharma to develop Great Compassion.
10. Are far away and have lost the Buddha Dharma to develop Great Compassion…”

Therefore, to develop the “Compassionate Mind” is also considered developing the “Bodhi Mind.” This is what it means to cultivate the:

“COMPASSIONATE MIND.”

4. REJOICING MIND
What is a “Rejoicing Mind?”
It consists of having these two states of mind:
– Accepting (to feel happy for others’ joy and happiness).
– Forgiving (to forgive happily others’ mistakes and transgressions).
a. Accepting Mind: Has the special characteristics that can eliminate various karmic obstructions including jealousy, stinginess, pettiness, etc.
b.  Forgiving Mind: Has the special characteristic that can solve and destroy karmic obstructions, such as vengeance and retaliation. This is what it means to cultivate for the:

“REJOICING MIND.”

5. REPENTANCE-VOW MIND
What is a “Repentance-vow Mind?”
From infinite eons ago, because all of us are deeply trapped in the idea of “SELF”, ignorance has ruled and governed us.  Thus, our Body, Speech, and Mind have created infinite karmas and even offenses such as being ungrateful and disloyal to our fathers, mothers; the Triples Jewels etc. were not spared.
Now that we are awakened, it is necessary to feel ashamed and be remorseful by using the same three karma of Body, Speech, and Mind to repent sincerely (similar to Maitreya Maha-Bodhisattva; even as a “One-Birth Maha-Bodhisattva” [one life from becoming a Buddha], six times daily he still performs the repentance ceremony praying to eliminate binding ignorance quickly.  Thus, as a Maha-Bodhisattva his “ignorance” is infinitesimal yet he still repents to eliminate them; how can we not repent given that, as unenlightened foolish mortals, we are bound by countless ignorance!).
How should we repent?
a.  Speech Karma: openly confess all transgressions and pray for them to disappear (and then use that speech to practice Buddha recitation, chant sutras, speak wholesomely, etc.)
b.  Mind Karma must be genuine, remorseful, vowing not to revert back to the old ways.
c.  Develop Vow to make the Triple Jewels glorious, help and rescue all sentient beings, in order to compensate for past transgressions and repay the four-gratefuls including the Triple Jewels, Parents, Teachers (life and religion), and all Sentient Beings.This is what it means to cultivate the:

“REPENTANCE-VOW MIND.”

6. NON-RETROGRESSION MIND
What is a “Non-retrogression Mind?”
It is necessary to know:
Even if repentance-vow has been made and the cultivated path has been taken:
a. Binding karma, afflictions as well as other evil obstructions are not easy to eliminate and destroy.
b. Cultivating for the Six Paramitas and ten-thousand conducts (of a Bodhisattva) are not easy to attain.
c. And the path toward achieving the Ultimate Bodhi Mind is an extremely long process; it is not easy to accomplish, etc.
Therefore, Pureland practitioners must “develop firm vows of non-retrogression,” such as regarding this body:
– Even if it has to endure infinite degradations, pains, and sufferings.
– Even if it is burned to ashes.
– Etc….
– (I am) Determined not to commit evil transgressions because of it.
- (I am) Determined not to regress on (my) cultivated path because of it.
To use this “non-retrogression” mind to practice for enlightenment (the Bodhi Mind) is what it truly means to cultivate for the:

“NON-RETROGRESSION MIND.” The above are the observation methods of the “Six Minds” in order for cultivators to develop the “BODHI MIND.”

Therefore, the Twelfth Pureland Patriarch, Great Master CH’E WU taught:
It is absolutely essential for Pureland Cultivators to have the following:
1.   For the purpose of finding liberation from the cycle of rebirths, vow for the
Ultimate Bodhi Mind.
Thereafter:
2.  Use deep Faith and sincere Vow.
3. Practice Buddha Recitation.

These are the “iron” and “unwavering” goals of Pureland Buddhism.

Therefore:

Anyone who cultivates Pureland Buddhism absolutely must
make a point to remember these goals. Only in this way will the Buddha Recitation practices praying to gain rebirth to the Ultimate Bliss World be attained.

B. Pureland is also Zen Meditation

Pureland Buddhism and the line of Buddha Recitation are also called Zen Meditation.
Why is this true? Because when the Pureland Cultivators are engaging in Buddha Recitation, they must do the following:

1.  Single-Mindedly Practice Buddha Recitation

This means throughout any particular Buddha Recitation session, they must do whatever they can to make their Minds perfectly still and remain completely empty of all other thoughts.  Thus, if cultivators are able to achieve that “Single-Minded Recitation,” then that is the condition of:

Mind Karma Creating Wholesome Conducts Therefore, if the “Mind Karma” is able to create Wholesome Conducts by Reciting Buddha, then the three evil (unwholesome) karma of the mind, which are: Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance (Stupidity), will not have the opportunity to arise (be born). Therefore, while single-mindedly reciting Buddha in that way, cultivators’: Mind Karma Will Reach Purity and Tranquility.

2.  Speech Practice Buddha Recitation

This is to use the mouth (speech) to recite sincerely, “Namo Amitabha Buddha,” continuously without interruption.  Meaning as soon as one Buddha recitation ends another Buddha recitation follows immediately  This is condition of:

Speech Karma Creating Wholesome Conducts

Therefore, if the “Mouth Concentrates to Recite Buddha” (“Speech Karma”)is able to create Wholesome Conducts by Reciting Buddha, then the four evil (unwholesome) karma of speech which are:

Lying, Slandering, Gossip, and Speaking with a double-tongue will not have the opportunity to arise (be born) as the cultivators engage in their practices. Therefore, while single-mindedly reciting Buddha in that way, cultivators’: Speech Karma Will Reach Purity and Tranquility.

3.  Speech Practice Buddha Recitation

This is to use the “Body” to prostrate respectfully to the Buddha. Meaning, when prostrating to Buddha, Buddhists must be proper, respectful, and do not jump and dance around in a disturbed and uncontrolled manner.  When cultivators prostrate to the Buddha in a proper and respectful manner (in a given period of worshipping), this is the condition of:

Body Karma Creating Wholesome Conducts

Therefore, if the “Body Karma” is able to create Wholesome Conducts by Prostrating to Buddha in that way, then the three evil (unwholesome) karma of the body which are:

Killing, Stealing, and Committing Sexual Misconducts will not have the opportunity to arise (be born) as the cultivators engage in their prostrating practices. Therefore, while sincerely prostrating Buddha in that way, cultivators’: Body Karma Will Reach Purity and Tranquility.

Overall, if any Buddha Recitation practitioner is able to attain a:
A pure and tranquil Mind Karma
A pure and tranquil Body Karma
A pure and tranquil Speech Karma
just as discussed above, then that practice of
Buddha Recitation Is Zen Meditation.

Thus, I hope for all Buddha recitation practitioners to penetrate the state, in which:

Pureland is Zen so in this present life, they will be able to bring along their (residual) karma to gain rebirth to the nine levels of golden lotus in the Ultimate Bliss World.

It is that magnificent!